CFMOTO pushes upmarket with 210 hp V4 SR-RR prototype

CFMOTO has underlined its growing performance ambitions, with the new V4 SR-RR prototype recording a claimed GPS-verified top speed of 315.82 km/h during a closed-course test at the Shangrao Automotive Proving Ground in Jiangxi Province.

The run took place on June 15, with Chinese riders Du Bang and Huang Shizhao aboard the prototype litre-class sportsbike. CFMOTO says the test was overseen and recorded for verification by the National Motorcycle Quality Inspection and Testing Centre in Chongqing and the Hangzhou National Notary Public Office.

The top-speed run was officially documented and verified, according to CFMOTO.

The result is claimed as a new national record for a Chinese internal-combustion motorcycle. This was a closed proving-ground run by professional riders on a pre-production prototype, rather than an independently tested showroom production motorcycle.

CFMOTO continues its rapid development curve

CFMOTO has been developing rapidly in recent years, both in its product range and in brand perception. Once known in markets such as Australia largely for ATVs, UTVs and affordable motorcycles, the Chinese manufacturer has progressively pushed into more sophisticated road-bike segments with the NK, MT and SR families.

Locally, CFMOTO is distributed by Mojo Motorcycles, which has helped build the brand’s presence across Australia. As the model line has matured, the conversation around CFMOTO has also shifted. It is no longer just about price. Increasingly, it is about specification, electronics, styling and where the brand is trying to position itself against established Japanese and European rivals.

That shift has been evident across recent CFMOTO coverage, including the 675SR-R, the four-cylinder 500SR VOOM, and Wayne’s review of the CFMOTO 675 NK.

The V4 SR-RR sits right at the top of that push ito the future for the brand.

CFMOTO says the V4 SR-RR prototype uses a 997 cc V4, active aerodynamics and a modern electronics suite. A 997 cc V4 flagship project

At the centre of the V4 SR-RR is a 997 cc 90-degree V4 engine that CFMOTO says has been developed in-house. Claimed figures are 157 kW, or more than 210 horsepower, with a 15,000 rpm ceiling and a reverse-rotating crankshaft.

CFMOTO says the machine used for the test was a pre-production prototype rather than a purpose-built race special. The claimed dry weight is 180 kg, which, if carried through to a production version, would put the V4 SR-RR firmly in serious superbike territory.

The company also claims the bike uses an electronically active wing system. According to CFMOTO, the system can reduce drag by 12 per cent during acceleration and increase front-end downforce by 45 per cent at high speed.

Other listed features include a six-axis IMU, cornering ABS, traction control, combined braking, hill-hold control, cruise control and a bi-directional quick-shifter. In other words, CFMOTO is clearly aiming for a modern superbike specification rather than simply building a big engine and wrapping bodywork around it.

The V4 SR-RR project was first covered by MCNews.com.au when the 210-plus horsepower prototype was showcased, and it later appeared again as part of the company’s broader brand showcase at CFMOTO Day 2026 in Chengdu.

CFMOTO says its V4 SR-RR prototype recorded a GPS-verified 315.82 km/h top-speed run at the Shangrao Automotive Proving Ground in China. Racing success, albeit with KTM-based machinery

CFMOTO’s growing presence in road racing has also helped change how the brand is viewed. The company’s Grand Prix racing profile has been built with KTM-based machinery, with CFMOTO-badged bikes competing in Moto3 and the brand is now closely tied to the Aspar operation.

That program has already delivered significant success, including David Alonso’s 2024 Moto3 World Championship with the CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team. That title was later recognised in showroom form through the CFMOTO 450SR S Team Aspar Limited Edition.

It would be a stretch to directly equate KTM-based Moto3 success with an in-house V4 superbike project, but the racing visibility, technical relationships and data gathering still form part of the broader picture.

CFMOTO has also moved to strengthen its racing and engineering footprint through its involvement with Kalex, the dominant chassis name in Moto2.

CFMOTO personnel review data during the V4 SR-RR prototype top-speed test. CFMOTO’s upmarket ambitions are becoming clearer

CFMOTO says it invested 1.22 billion yuan (A$258 million) in research and development in 2025, representing 6.18 per cent of operating revenue. The company also claims 2119 active and authorised patents, including 242 invention patents, and involvement in the formulation of 71 national, industry and association standards.

Vice President of CFMOTO Chen Zhiyong said the speed run reflected the company’s long-term commitment to internal research and development, as well as lessons learned through racing.

“This breakthrough stems from CFMOTO’s long-term commitment to independent R&D and refining technologies through world-class racing events,” Chen said. Our in-house-developed litre-class model has secured a place among the world’s top high-performance motorcycles.”

The CFMOTO team mark the claimed 315.82 km/h run with the V4 SR-RR prototypes at Shangrao.

There is no confirmed Australian timing, pricing or production availability for the V4 SR-RR at this stage. But as a technical statement, the prototype is significant.

A serious statement of intent

Superbikes have long served as flagships for motorcycle manufacturers. Even in a market where pure sportsbike sales are much smaller than they once were, a litre-class superbike still carries brand weight. It shows what a company can do with engine development, chassis design, electronics, aerodynamics and vehicle dynamics.

For decades, that part of the market has been dominated by Japanese and European manufacturers. CFMOTO is not suddenly going to displace those brands overnight, and the V4 SR-RR still has to prove itself beyond prototype form.

But the direction of travel is obvious. CFMOTO is moving faster, aiming higher, and adding features and performance that would have seemed unlikely from a Chinese manufacturer not all that long ago.

Whether the V4 SR-RR becomes a road-going superbike, a racing platform, or both, it is another sign that established performance motorcycle brands will need to keep a closer eye on CFMOTO.